Storage device for rollable objects

ABSTRACT

A support is adapted to receive a rollable object in a normal position behind a stop. Means responsive to the application of rearward force to the object are provided behind the object. When a rearward force is applied to the object, the means impart sufficient forward motion to the object to permit the object to roll over the stop, at which point the object is readily retrievable.

I United States Patent [151 3,638,800 Frederick et a1. 1 1 Feb. 1, 1972[54] STORAGE DEVKIE FOR ROLLABLE 1,480,939 1/1924 Hand .312/17 OBJECTS2,238,451 4/1941 Roth ..21 1/40 [72] Inventors: mm B. F Brooklyn; JohnP. 2,281,845 5/1942 Kaplan ..21 1/40 PM. g'gfi; f N Y 3,442,394 5/1969McCune ..211/40 o 3,471,030 10/1969 Nettekoven ..211/40 [73] Assignee:Supreme Equlpment 8: System Corporation Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers,Jr. [22] Filed, May 4 1970 Attorney-Harry C. Bierman, Jordan B. Biermanand Bierman & Bierman [21] App1.No.: 34,392

[57] ABSTRACT US. A support is adapted to receive a ronabie object in anormal [5 l] n 8 29/00 position behind a stop. Means responsive to theapplication of [58] ddofseanh "211/40; 312/ rearward force to the objectare provided behind the object.

17 When a rearward force is applied to the object, the means impartsufiicient forward motion to the object to permit the ob- [56] RehmCited ject to roll over the stop, at which point the object is readilyUNITED STATES PATENTS remevable- 428,555 5118911 Dom ..211l40 X 15Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAfENTED FEB H972 3638.800

sum 1 m 2 FIG. 3 INVIIN'TOHS ATTORNEYS PATENTED FEB H972 3.638,8OO

INVENTORS 457(17/ i fizae'emz ATTORNEYS STORAGE DEVICE FOR ROLLABLEOBJECTS This invention relates to a storage device. More particularly,it relates to a device for storing rollable objects as, for example,reels of tape or film. The device is preferably trayshaped.

Storage devices for objects such as reels of tape or film are known inthe art. These known devices suffer, however, from a number ofdisadvantages. They are complex in structure and difficult to construct.This increases their cost. Furthennore, many of the devices utilizemoving parts in their construction. This increases the risk of breakdownwith its attendant high cost of repair.

It is an object of the present invention to remedy the above alluded todefects of the prior art devices. It is another object of the presentinvention to provide a storage device for storing one rollable object ora plurality of rollable objects in aligned arrangement. Each rollableobject is independently and easily accessible without disturbing theposition of the other stored objects.

The storage device of the present invention is simple. Its constructioncost is low. Additionally, in its preferred form, it utilizes no movingparts, thus it is essentially maintenance free.

The storage device of the present invention may advantageously be usedalone or in conjunction with a standard standing storage shelf. Asalluded to above, it may be utilized for the storage of a plurality ofrollable objects, the rollable objects being stored in close proximityto one another.

The device of the present invention eliminates the need for the presenceof sufficient space between adjacent stored objects to permit removal ofindividual objects by, for example, a human hand. Thus, the device ofthe present invention permits a greater utilization of storage space ascompared with devices of the prior art. Therefore, the device of thepresent invention permits a greater number of rollable objects to bestored in the same space. The device of the present invention may beused for storage of any rollable object. Rollable objects include, forexample, balls, records, reels of tape, reels of film, etc. This list isby no means inclusive.

The device of the instant invention will now be more fully explained inthe specification which follows taken in conjunction with the attacheddrawings wherein:

FIG 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the device ofthe present invention and a storage shelf adapted to receive same;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, taken along the line1-1, the device being positioned on the shelf with a rollable objectcarried thereon;

FIG. 3 is a view, similar to that of FIG. 2, the object being shown inanother position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment and a storage shelfadapted to receive same;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 4, taken along line 55,the device being positioned on the shelf with a rollable object carriedthereon; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5, the object being shown inanother position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the storage device of the present invention iscomprised of a tray-shaped support 1 having a front portion 2 and a rearportion 3. A stop 4 is positioned at the front portion 2 of support 1.An incline 5 is positioned at the rear portion 3 of support 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, a rollable object 6, as for example a reel, isnormally positioned at a rest position on said support I between stop 4and incline 5. When a rearward force F is applied to the front of theobject 6, as for example by a clerk's hand, the rollable object 6 willroll -in a backward direction from the rest position and up the incline5 to a lift position. Rollable object 6 will then roll back down incline5 towards stop 4 gathering momentum as it rolls. This momentum willcarry rollable object 6 over stop 4 and into the hand of the clerkseeking to retrieve the rollable object.

Optionally, a rest 7 is positioned on the front portion 2. of

rolls over stop 4 it comes to rest at a retrieving position withrollable object 6 resting between stop 4 and rest 7 as shown in FIG. 3.If the rollable object is a reel or a record, side members 8 may beprovided on support I as shown in FIG. I. These sides members preventtipping of the rollable object. The side members also serve to dividesupport 1 into a number of separate compartments, each compartment beingadapted to receive a separate rollable object.

In the preferred form of the device of the present invention, a tongueor spacer 9 is disposed between incline 5 and the rear wall 10 of thestorage unit II. Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, spacer 9 isfixed to support 1 at a point behind incline 5. Spacer 9 insures thatthe rollable object 6 will be able to roll up incline 5 withoutinterference of its motion by contact with the rear wall 10 of thestorage unit 11.

A reading of the instant specification taken together with the drawingswill suggest to the skilled artisan other modifications of the presentinvention. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, inclined 5 can bereplaced by an arm 12 having a normal position and a spring 13 formaintaining the arm of said normal position. When the rollable object issubjected to a rearwardly directed force, it will roll against the arm12, pushing it backwards. The spring will act upon the arm, forcing itback to its normal position, stopping the rearward motion of the objectand impelling the rollable object in a forward direction will sufficientforce to cause the object to roll over the stop 4.

What is claimed is:

l. A storage device for a rollable object comprising a support, a stopon said support, said support being adapted to receive said object in anormal position behind said stops and means responsive to theapplication of rearward force to said object, disposed behind saidobject, for imparting sufficient forward motion to the object to permitthe object to roll over the stop, said means responsive being a rampproviding a substantially continuously supportive surface along the pathof travel of said object.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said stop is a ridge.

3. A device as in claim I further including spacing means disposedbehind said means responsive whereby when the device is placed on astorage shelf having a back the spacing means will prevent contact ofthe rollable object with the back when a rearward force is applied tothe object.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein said spacing means is a tongue on saidsupport.

5. A device as in claim I further including a rest disposed in front ofsaid stop, said rollable object after rolling over the stop resting at aretrieving position between said stop and said rest.

6. A storage device for a rollable object comprising a support, a stopon said support, said support being adapted to receive said object in anormal position behind said stop, means responsive to the application ofrearward force to said object, disposed behind said object, forimparting sufi'icient forward motion to the object to permit the objectto roll over the stop, said means for imparting being an arm and aspring urging the arm forward against the object and towards said stop.

7. A device as in claim 6 wherein said stop means is a ridge.

8. A device in claim 6 further including spacing means disposed behindsaid means responsive whereby when the device is placed on a storageshelf having a back the spacing means will prevent contact of therollable object with the back when a rearward force is applied to theobject.

9. A device as in claim 8 wherein said spacing means is a tongue on saidsupport.

10. A device as in claim 6 further including a rest disposed in front ofsaid stop, said rollable object after rolling over the stop resting at aretrieving position between said stop and said rest.

II. A storage device for a rollable object comprising a support, a stopon said support, said support being adapted to receive said object in anormal position behind said stop and support 1 and in front of stop 4 sothat when rollable object 6 positive mechanical means responsive to theapplication of when a rearward force is applied to the object.

14. A device as in claim 13 wherein said spacing means is a tongue onsaid support 15. A device as in claim 11 further including a restdisposed in front of said stop, said rollable object after rolling overthe stop resting at a retrieving position between said stop and said andsaid rest.

i i I t it

1. A storage device for a rollable object comprising a support, a stopon said support, said support being adapted to receive said object in anormal position behind said stops and means responsive to theapplication of rearward force to said object, disposed behind saidobject, for imparting sufficient forward motion to the object to permitthe object to roll over the stop, said means responsive being a rampproviding a substantially continuously supportive surface along the pathof travel of said object.
 2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said stop isa ridge.
 3. A device as in claim 1 further including spacing meansdisposed behind said means responsive whereby when the device is placedon a storage shelf having a back the spacing means will prevent contactof the rollable object with the back when a rearward force is applied tothe object.
 4. A device as in claim 3 wherein said spacing means is atongue on said support.
 5. A device as in claim 1 further including arest disposed in front of said stop, said rollable object after rollingover the stop resting at a retrieving position between said stop andsaid rest.
 6. A storage device for a rollable object comprising asupport, a stOp on said support, said support being adapted to receivesaid object in a normal position behind said stop, means responsive tothe application of rearward force to said object, disposed behind saidobject, for imparting sufficient forward motion to the object to permitthe object to roll over the stop, said means for imparting being an armand a spring urging the arm forward against the object and towards saidstop.
 7. A device as in claim 6 wherein said stop means is a ridge.
 8. Adevice in claim 6 further including spacing means disposed behind saidmeans responsive whereby when the device is placed on a storage shelfhaving a back the spacing means will prevent contact of the rollableobject with the back when a rearward force is applied to the object. 9.A device as in claim 8 wherein said spacing means is a tongue on saidsupport.
 10. A device as in claim 6 further including a rest disposed infront of said stop, said rollable object after rolling over the stopresting at a retrieving position between said stop and said rest.
 11. Astorage device for a rollable object comprising a support, a stop onsaid support, said support being adapted to receive said object in anormal position behind said stop and positive mechanical meansresponsive to the application of rearward force to said object, disposedbehind said object, for imparting a sufficient forward motion to theobject to permit the object to roll over the stop.
 12. A device as inclaim 11 wherein said stop means is a ridge.
 13. A device as in claim 11further including spacing means disposed behind said means responsivewhereby when the device is placed on a storage shelf having a back thespacing means will prevent contact of the rollable object with the backwhen a rearward force is applied to the object.
 14. A device as in claim13 wherein said spacing means is a tongue on said support.
 15. A deviceas in claim 11 further including a rest disposed in front of said stop,said rollable object after rolling over the stop resting at a retrievingposition between said stop and said and said rest.